My Time Has Come – A soldier in the battlefield. The sun is setting, the tanks are rolling, the day is going, his time could be near.

Highway Of My Dreams – A couple of Bonnie & Clyde types set out to find the highway of their dreams.
 
Love And Glory  - A Steinbeck inspired ballad, riding a motorcycle, chasing a girl, in California’s San Joaquin valley
 
Black Cat Hiding - A jilted lover who can’t move on. A cat with painted toenails, a circus clown and a two-foot tall monkey.
 
You Can’t Go Home Again - Political correctness, entrenchment, seagulls screaming at angels to let them go back home while Josephine says no.
 
I’ve Never Been To Nashville - A songwriter’s dream, shared by everyone from Kriss Kristofferson to Taylor Swift, Jack White and Keith Urban. Gettin’ down to Nashville.
 
 The Only Thing I Fear - Lot’s of things you can fear in this world. This guy fears only one thing: Losing your love..
 
No More Cards In The Game - Just out of prison after 20 years. Looking in the Hobo’s Alley for his long lost love
 
Time For You To Go - Biblical references abound. A black moon is rising and it is surely time for some people to go. Who it might be is never very clear.

Follow Me Down - As the river needs to get to the sea, he needs to get there too. Someone always gets hurt when dreams get followed.

Liner Notes

New Album Coming Soon

Excited to announce we are recording a new album in Nashville, November 2015. Twelve brand-new original songs culled from a 25 or so new songs written since January this year. Some written in our new home in Sooke, BC on the beautiful Vancouver Island, some written in Toronto. More news soon!

CITIZENS OF NASHVILLE

Press Release  – Nov 14, 2014
Toronto, Ontario. 

The third independent album from Toronto folk-rocker Bob Menzies releases November 14. Ten new, lyrically rich songs backed by a cast of some of Nashville's finest session musicians. Songs of love and loss, travel and hope and observations on the society we live in today. The album was produced by Larry Beaird and recorded at his studio BEAIRD MUSIC in Nashville. Final mastering was completed in Toronto by Phil Demetro at Lacquer Channel 
 
CITIZENS OF NASHVILLE
Liner Notes
 
Songs were ready to record and NashvilIe beckoned. I wasn’t too sure what would happen when I brought my batch of folk/blues tunes to a country studio but one thing I did know: I would find some of the best musicians on the planet down there and they would serve the songs well.  So that credit for the great sound we got is theirs and I will of course take responsibility for the songs.
 
As in most of my work these are songs of longing and loss, hope and despair and love at the joy of being alive.  The musician ship is nothing short of amazing with the line-up including some of Nashville’s finest musicians (see session credits)
 
We decided to head down to Mississippi first to get to the heart of Blues Country where it all started. We got to Clarksdale and stayed on the old Hopson Plantation to re-work some of the songs to get them ready for the studio. Hung out at the crossroads of Highway 49 and 61, visited Robert Johnson at the Church Of The Little Zion graveyard, crossed the Tallahachee and  back to Nashvile for a whirlwind recording session. The album was finished in 6 days and a hard drive sat in my pocket till we got the tapes back to Toronto’s Lacquer Channel Mastering’s Phil Demetro.
 
I’m not exactly sure what we’ve got here. The Nashville engineers said it sounded like Country Americana. Time will tell I guess

 

Track List

  1.   My Time Has Come…..3:19
  2.   Highway Of My Dreams…..3:46
  3.   Love And Glory…3:10
  4.   Black Cat Hiding…..4:27
  5.   You Can’t Go Home Again…..4:23
  6.   I’ve Never Been To Nashville…..3:47
  7.   The Only Thing I Fear…..3:33
  8.   No More Cards In The Game…..4:42
  9.   Time For You To Go…..3:41
  10.    Follow Me Down...............3:29

Session Musicians

 
Producer, Acoustic Guitar:
Larry Beaird, originally from Texas has several different roles in the Nashville recording scene. He was a 2004 nominee for the Academy of Country Music Guitarist of the Year. As a producer, he has produced songs featuring such artists as Dolly Parton, Billy Dean and Mark O’Connor.
 
As a musician, he has played acoustic guitar, banjo, and mandolin on thousands of recording sessions including records for Rascal Flatts, Faith Hill, Trace Adkins, Brooks and Dunn, and Montgomery Gentry.
 
Drums:
Eddie Bayers,  (born 28 January 1949) is an American session drummer who has played on 150 gold and platinum albums. He received the Academy of Country Music 'Drummer of the Year Award' for eight straight years, and has three times won the Nashville Music Awards 'Drummer of the Year'. He is also a member of two bands: The Players, and The Notorious Cherry Bombs.
 
Electric Guitar:
Kelly Back has played on literally thousands of albums in multiple genres of music. The amazing musical gift that he and the other tried and true session players on Music Row have is stunning to watch! They play on hundreds of albums and yet are able to create new licks, runs, and feels for each song. That’s why they stick around…because they are really just that good.
 
Keyboards:
Howard Duck (The Duckman) from Boisie Indiana, formerly playing keyboards in Rascal Flatts’ backup band. Also played on Luke Bryan’s SPRING BREAK…HERE TO PARTY
 
Pedal Steel Guitar, Dobro:
Scotty Sanders – Trace Adkins/George Jones/Alan Jackson Called one of the best Pickers in Nashville. If you don't like Southern Gospel you have missed some of the best Country Steel of all time.
 
Bass: Kevin “Swine” Grantt
Son of a preacher man in Ellenboro, North Carolina and since those early days, Swine's toured with the best talent in the business, including Johnny Paycheck, Johnny Rodriguez, Toby Keith, and many more, including the man at least partially responsible for his life's path, Willie Nelson. Nominated for the 2014 Academy of Country Music’s Bass player of the Year
 
Keyboards, Organ: Mike Rojas
Michael Rojas accepted the Piano/Keyboard Player of the Year Award at the 7th Annual ACM Honors at the Ryman Auditorium on September 10, 2013 in Nashville, Tennessee. Played with Lady Antebellum, Lee Anne Womack, Miranda Lambert, Luke Bryan, Kellie Pickler, Dave Stewart, Alabama, Tim McGraw, Florida Georgia Line,Dean Brody and so on..
 
 


 

 

Citizens Of Nashville - Tracklist

My Time Has Come
Highway Of My Dreams
Love And Glory
Black Cat Hiding
You Can't Go Home Again
I've Never been To Nashville
The Only Thing I Fear
No More Cards In The Game
Time For You To Go
Follow Me Down


 

Citizens Of Nashville - Lyrics

 
My Time Has Come
 
Words and Music by Bob Menzies
 
Tell my momma, I didn’t want to go
Tell my brother, I miss him so
Tell my daddy, I wish him well
Hope he avoids, the fires of hell
 
I got a feeling, for the setting sun
I got a feeling, let the big wheels run
I got a feeling, my day is done
I got a feeling, my time has come
 
Tell my momma that I know
She had a love as deep as the snow
All through the winter she kept me warm
All through my life she kept me from harm
 
I got a feeling, for the setting sun
I got a feeling, let the big wheels run
I got a feeling, my day is done
I got a feeling, my time has come
 
(Chorus repeats)
 
My time has come
My Time has come
My time has come

 
 

Highway Of My Dreams

Words and Music by Bob Menzies
 
Wake me up darling when it’s time to go
Drink a little coffee, see how the wind blows
Pick up our bags and get away clean
On the highway to heaven, highway of my dreams
 
Time to get going, time to turn the page
Dim the spotlight on that worn out stage
The curtain is risin on a brand new scene
On the highway to heaven, highway of my dreams
 
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway of my dreams
 
We’ll take to the road like Bonnie and Clyde
We’ll do all our living before we die
You’re the best woman this man’s ever seen
On the highway to heaven, highway of my dreams
 
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven (right into next line)
Highway of my ……….
 
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway to Heaven
Highway of my dreams
 
….my dreams
….of my dreams
 

Love And Glory
words and music by Bob Menzies

 
Just get me on up to the San Joaquin Valley
I got a few friends from Gasoline Alley
I’ll get on my old Harley make my peace with God
I’ll make friends with the devil if he gives me a nod
 
Love and glory in the San Joaquin
Will help me find that girl her name is Jean
Strip her off the back seat of that Hell’s Angel’s bike
Ride down into Mexico whenever we like
 
Love and glory, right to the end
Love and glory, and one good friend
Love and glory, right to the end
This is the story of  mice and men
 
Love and glory is around the next bend
                                                     With the wind at my back I don’t need to bend                                                         
I’ll ride the white line, till this highway is done        
And I’ll go anywhere but back where I came from
 
Love and glory, right to the end
Love and glory, and one good friend
Love and glory, right to the end
This is the story of  mice and men
 
All in all LA has been good to me
Pacific Coast Highway is kind of a home
But Bakersfield is where I want to be
I’m tired of being alone
 
Love and glory, right to the end
Love and glory, and one good friend
Love and glory, right to the end
This is the story of  mice and men
Love and glory, right to the end
Love and glory, and one good friend
Love and glory, right to the end
This is the story of  mice and men
 

Black Cat Hiding

                                              Words and music by Bob Menzies                                                 
 
I was stranded in the wilderness, freezing rain in my shoes
I was stranded in the wilderness, freezing rain in my shoes
I was singing the last verse, from the Folsom Prison Blues
 
You took a walk on hard street , came out on the other side
You took a walk on hard street , came out on the other side
There’s fools behind the bushes; I can’t believe how hard you tried
 
There’s a black cat hiding up inside your room
There’s a black cat hiding up inside your room
She got rings on her fingers I hope she gets out soon
 
Passed your place the other day while I was walking down your street
Passed your place the other day while I was walking down your street
You would not believe all the strange things you see
 
You got new people now I wonder where you found them all
You got new people now I wonder where you found them all
I saw a circus clown and a monkey about two feet tall
 
There’s a black cat hiding up inside your room
There’s a black cat hiding up inside your room
She got rings on her fingers I hope she gets out soon
 
Well if that monkey won’t dance, you can send him on over to me
If that monkey won’t dance, you can send him on over to me
I’ll put some paint on his toenails, then I’ll set him free
 
I guess in the end all of this won’t matter too much
I guess in the end all of this won’t matter too   much
But if you send me your address, I’ll be sure the monkey stays in touch
 
There’s a black cat hiding, up inside your room
There’s a black cat hiding, up inside your room
She’s got rings on her fingers, I hope she gets out soon
 
She got rings on her fingers, I hope she gets out soon

You Can’t Go Home Again

Words and Music by Bob Menzies
 
I see them marching on the left
I see them marching on the right
Brains are churned like butter
In the sacrificial light
But Josephine stands firmly
In silent amen
She says it does not matter
You can’t go home again
 
You can’t go home again; you can’t go home again
She says it does not matter / you can’t go home again
 
She’s got a Lily of the Valley
Clenched between her teeth
She’s got a way to mess your mind up
Make you reach down deep
Into the recesses
Of your primordial brain
As she stands and tells you
You can’t go home again
 
You can’t go home again; you can’t go home
As she stands and tells you / you can’t go home again
 
Up and down the freeway
She’s calling out your name
The rain brings down confessions
Of your mistress’ devious game
Of pawns and rooks and bishops
That you cannot contain
She says she knows the reason
You can’t go home again
 
You can’t go home again; you can’t go home again
She says it does not matter / you can’t go home again
 
Then she takes you to the water
To the damp and the dark and the fog
Seagulls broken-hearted cries
Sound like wounded dogs
Baying at the moon
From a barely hidden den
Screaming at the angels
You can’t go home again
 
You can’t go home again; you can’t go home again
She says it does not matter; you can’t go home again
 
You can’t go home again; you can’t go home again
She says it does not matter; you can’t go home again
 

I’ve Never Been To Nashville

                                                                                          Words and music by Bob Menzies                                                                                            
 
Have you ever been to Nashville
I hear it’s the place to go
Make a record with the player
Better than anyone you know
I want to walk on down South Broadwa
My guitar case in hand
Hang out at Tootsie’s Orchid Bar
For a secret midnight jam
 
I’ve never been to Nashville, down in Tennessee
But if I go to Nashville, won’t you come along with me
Won’t you come along  with me
 
I’ve never been to Nashville
But that’s soon gonna change
I’m gonna pack myself a bag or two
And get it all arranged
Book a studio and sing my songs
And just like a rolling stone
I’ll sing them on the sidewalk
Before I take them home
 
I’ve never been to Nashville, down in Tennessee
But if I go to Nashville, won’t you come along with me
Won’t you come along  with me
 
I got a suitcase full of songs, my bills are up to date
All I need is my sweet girl, the rest I’ll leave to fate
 
We might take an aeroplane or maybe my old car
But we’re getting down to Nashville , yes we are
We might take an aeroplane or maybe my old car
But we’re getting down to Nashville, yes we are
 
Getting down to Nashville, yes we are
 

 

The Only Thing I Fear

                                                                                          Words and music by Bob Menzies                                                                                            
 
 
I don’t fear losing all of my money
Don’t fear microbes in my honey  
I don’t fear a criminal coming too near
Losing your love is the only thing I fear
 
I don’t fear if everything I do is wrong
Don’t fear if somebody steals my song
I don’t care if I never have a career
Losing your love is the only thing I fear
 
Oooo, Oooo darling I love you dear
Oooo, Oooo darling got to have you near
Oooo Oooo darling, can I be perfectly clear…
I love you dear      
 
I don’t fear the planet won’t last too long
Don’t fear the Mexican Mafia or Hong Kong
I don’t care if my taxes are in arrears
Losing your love is the only thing I fear
 
I don’t fear if I die
Don’t fear if my relatives do not cry
I don’t fear no doctor, don’t fear no lawyer’s tears
Losing your love is the only thing I fear
 
Oooo, Oooo darling I love you dear
Oooo, Oooo darling got to have you near
Oooo Oooo darling, can I be perfectly clear…
I love you dear      

 
 

No More Cards In The Game

                                                              Words and music by Bob Menzies                                                                                            
 
I have travelled far and wide, been to the other side
Of the moon and back again
There is not much time, to make good on all my crimes
Possibly to ease some pain
This may be just an alley way, a place where people like me stay
And the bottle might not be much of a friend
But it sustains me, please don’t blame me
I’m still gonna see her again (go right to chorus)
 
It’s a long road home, when you’re travelling a-lone
And no body knows your name
It’s a long road home, in just your skin and bones
When you’ve got no more cards in the game
 
I remember you so well and time has begun to tell
About all the things that I missed
Got a worn out broken wallet, with a picture inside it
Each night I take it out for a kiss
 
I tell my story every night to the people I fight
They don’t listen, it don’t matter much to me
You know I will be coming home, how much longer can I roam
How much longer can this blind man fail to see
 
It’s a long road home, when you’re travelling a-lone
And no body knows your name
It’s a long road home, in just your skin and bones
When you’ve got no more cards in the game
 
Lewisburg was my home for twenty years and more
All that is behind me now
I got twenty bucks in my shoe, get me started really soon
If it please the good Lord to allow
I pray there is redemption I got no more contention
I got only time slippin away after all
If I don’t make it through the night, everything will be alright
Try to bury me in the town of Montreal (right into chorus)
 
Chorus


Time For You To Go

                                                                  Words and music by Bob Menzies                                                                                            
 
Make me two trumpets of hammered silver
Use them for calling the battle cry
Blow me one trumpet for the priests and the ladies
Blow me one trumpet so the archers can fly
 
The black moon is rising and you still don’t know
That it’s time for you to go?
 
All you pilgrims are free to go
No one ever said you were a prisoner
Take your belongings and all that you owe
It’s the last time you’ll ask for forgiveness
 
The black moon is rising and you still don’t know
That it’s time for you to go?
 
You say we have choices, I’m not so sure
When the blood of my blood still has to endure
The fear of the crazy, the loss of the blame
I still remain certain we’re all the same
       
The black moon is rising and you still don’t know
That it’s time for you to go?
 
I look out my window every night
I see guns and rockets and knives and hatchets
I listen to the people as they fight
I’ve never heard such an awful racket
 
The black moon is rising and you still don’t know
That it’s time for you to go?
 
The black moon is rising and you still don’t know
That it’s time for you to go?
 
Time for you to go
Time for you to go
 
 

 

Follow Me Down

                                             Words and Music by Bob Menzies                                                   
 
I can see you by the river
Walking through the trees
Through leaves of green I can see your hair
Blowin in the breeze
 
I see you stepping lightly
As you follow me down to the shore
I watch you walk down to the water
No one could love you more
Follow me down
 
Follow me down
Follow me down
Follow me down to the river
Follow me down
 
Sometimes the river runs backward
Sometimes the river runs free
Sometimes the river runs dry as a bone
Ssometimes it’s on a killing spree
 
If that river could talk to you
And tell you of its dreams
All the river ever wants to do
Is flow down to the sea
Follow me down
  
Follow me down
Follow me down
Follow me down to the river
Follow me down
 
 And if I told you of my dreams
Would you still love me
And though you are my one true love
It’s you that I must leave
I am like the river too
I never have been free
I hurt the ones who love me most
As I rush towards the sea
Follow me down
 
Chorus
Chorus